Clutch-pedal lock



June 10. 1924., v 1,497,509

S. A. HUFFMAN CLUTCH PEDAL LOCK Filed'June 23. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 attozneq v 1, 9.7.509 me 1924 Y s. AfHUFFMAN CLUTCH PEDAL LOCK Filed June 23. 1922 j 2 SheaQ-Shnk a Patented J une' 10, 1924.

STANLEY A. HUFFMAN, OF NEWPORT, VIRGINIA.

CLUTCH-PEDAL LOCK.

Application filed June 23,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLEY A. HUFF- MAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Newport, in the county of Giles and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clutch- Pedal Locks, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient means in the form of an attachment for motor-driven cars particularly of the Ford type to maintain the clutch pedal in an adjusted position, and more particularly to maintain the clutch pedal of a machine of the indicated type in the low speed position while ascending long grades to relieve the operator of the necessity of holding the pedal; and furthermore to provide a pedal locking means which will serve to look a clutch or similar pedal in set positions and which may be readily disengaged to release the pedal when a further or difierent adjustment thereof is required in the operation of the car; and with these objects in view the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side view, and

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of a clutch pedal looking or holding means constructed in accordance with the invention and applied in the operative position to the clutch pedal of a car of the Ford type, the adja cent portions of the car being indicated in outline.

Figure 3 is a sectional view in the plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the bracket whereby the latch is pivotally mounted upon the clutch pedal.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the catch plate.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the latch operating spring.

The attachment consists essentially of a catch plate 10 adapted for arrangement on the car and engagement by bolts which are already in use on the standard or conventional types of Ford cars, and a latch 11 1922. Serial No. 570,298.

carried by the usual clutch pedal 12 and pivotally mounted to extend through a slot 13 in said catch plate, the latch bar being provided with ratchet teeth 14 for engage-v ment with a detent or catch tooth 16 at one end of the slot in the catch plate. A spring 17 serves to yieldingly hold the latch in engaging relation with the catch tooth or detent and a rubber or other cushion 18 at the opposite end of the slot serves to prevent the rattling and arring in the operation of the latch and also incident to the vibration of the car.

The bracket 19 whereby attachment is made to the clutch pedal and to which the latch is pivoted as indicated at 20 is in the form of a clamp for engaging the shank of the clutch pedal to which it is secured by means of a bolt 21 or the equivalent thereof, and attached to or formed integral with the latch is an operating arm 22 which curves forwardly and then rearwardly to terminate within convenient reach of the toe of a foot resting on the clutch pedal so that pressure applied to the extremity of said arm will serve to disengage the latch from the catch tooth or detent to permit of readjustment of the clutch pedal whereas under normal conditions the latch serves by engagement with the detent of the catch plate to lock the clutch pedal in either the neutral position as when starting the motor or in low gear as when ascending grades, without necessitating the constant pressure of the foot of the operator or driver.

In the construction illustrated the catch plate is provided with a forwardly directed securing arm 23 terminally perforated for engagement by the horn bolt 24 and with a lateral arm 25 terminally perforated for engagement by a bolt 26 of the side body brace 27 it being necessary merely to re move the taps of said bolts in order to posi tion and secure the catch plate in its proper relation to the latch which is mounted as above described upon the clutch pedal.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is A device for retaining the clutch pedal of an automobile in operative position comprising a catch plate having a slot, a latch curved arm connected with the bar at a bar pivoted at one end to the pedal and point between the ends thereof and having passing through thetslot in the plate and one end portion extending above the pivot 1 having teeth which engage the edge of the and the upper end of the pedal.

'6 slot, a spring interposed between the pedal In testimony whereof he afiixes his signaand the bar to hold the teeth thereof in enture.

gagement with the: edge of the slot and a STANLEY A. HUFFMAN. 

